Do you often feel like your nose is blocked and your throat is running? Is your sense of smell reduced? Do you sometimes get sinus infections along with facial pain? If you have been suffering from these symptoms for a long time, you may have nasal polyps. This is a really annoying condition. But the best thing is, there is no reason to worry. There are now very good and effective treatments for this condition.
"There are a variety of treatments for nasal polyps," says Cecilia Damask, M.D., an otolaryngologist in the United States. Your doctor can help you develop a treatment plan that will help shrink or eliminate these noncancerous polyps so you can breathe easier again.
What are the most commonly used treatments?
When treating nasal polyps, doctors first try to control the condition with medications. Surgery is only needed if medications do not provide relief. So let's see what the main medications used for this are.
The table below will give you a clear understanding of each of these treatment methods.
| Treatment method | What happens with this? | Special things to know |
|---|---|---|
| Topical Steroids (Ex: Nasal Sprays, Drops) | This is the first treatment that doctors recommend. This medicine, sprayed or dripped into the nose, reduces inflammation inside the nose and shrinks the sinuses. | These are very safe and can be used for a long time. Side effects are also very rare. However, if you stop using them, the symptoms may reappear. |
| Oral Steroids | These tablets are given if you have a severe case of hay fever that cannot be controlled with nasal spray, or if you have frequent hay fever. They provide quick relief. | Although these are very effective, they are not recommended for continuous or frequent use. They can cause serious side effects such as high blood sugar levels, cataracts, and bone weakness. Therefore, doctors only prescribe them for a short period of time. |
| Injectable Steroids | In this method, the doctor injects the steroid medication directly into the muscle, which ensures that the medication is delivered exactly where it is needed. | This lasts for about 3 months. It has fewer side effects than pills. However, in very rare cases, there has been a risk of temporary vision loss in some people. |
| Antibiotics | If you have a sinus infection caused by bacteria along with nasal discharge, this medicine is given to treat the infection. | These do not shrink the warts. They only treat the infection. Other steroid treatments are required for warts. |
| Modern biological drugs (Biologics) | These are the "ultimate weapon" for nasal polyps. They are given as injections and target the proteins that cause the inflammation that causes the polyps and stop them from working. | This treatment is a bit expensive. The first few doses are given under the supervision of a doctor. Later, if there are no side effects, you can get the vaccine yourself at home. |
Some other adjuvant treatments
In addition to the main treatments above, your doctor may recommend a few other things to help control your symptoms.
- Antihistamines and Decongestants: These medications do not directly cure hay fever. However, they can help control allergy symptoms such as a runny nose, stuffy nose, and itchy eyes.
- Immunotherapy : If allergies are the main cause of your hives, this treatment can be very important. This involves injecting you with very small amounts of the allergen, allowing your body to become accustomed to it over time. This can help control the recurrence of hives.
- Aspirin Desensitization: Some people are sensitive to the painkiller aspirin. They are at increased risk of developing nasal polyps. In this treatment, the dose of aspirin is gradually increased under medical supervision. The goal is to get the body used to aspirin and prevent the polyps from recurring.
The most important thing is that your doctor should decide which of these treatments is best for you. Don't just go and get whatever medication you think you need based on what you read on the internet or what people say.
What if there is no cure with medicine alone?
Although many of the above medications are effective, sometimes they are not enough. In such cases, your doctor may recommend surgery.
But this also needs to be understood properly.
Surgery is not a permanent solution. The biggest problem with nasal polyps is the possibility of them recurring.
One study found that 79% of people who underwent surgery had a recurrence of the tumor within 12 years, and more than a third had to undergo repeat surgery .
But don't let that scare you. The most important thing is to get treatment to control your symptoms and improve your quality of life. "There are many things that can help with this condition," experts say.
Take-Home Message
- Nasal polyps are a common and treatable condition.
- The main treatment in the early stages is topical steroid sprays, which are safe to use long-term.
- Although oral steroids are very effective, they can cause side effects with frequent use, so they are only given for a short period of time on medical advice.
- If medication does not help, surgery may be necessary. However, even after surgery, the fleshy lumps can grow back.
- Always talk to your doctor about your symptoms and the treatment plan that best suits you.
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